Garment press



C. M. CLARKE GARMENT PRESS Jan. 19, 1932.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1927 Jan. 19, 1932. c CLARKE 1,841,521

GARMENT PRESS Filed llay 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE M. CLARKE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES HOFF- MAN MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE GARMENT PRESS Application filed May 8,

This invention pertains to improvements in garment presses.

The invention has for its main object the production of a simple and effective structure wherein the head, when the press is open, stands clear and well to the rear of the buck to afford the operator ready access to the garment or goods laid upon the buck in order to secure a proper lay thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein the head, as it is moved forwardly over the buck, stands in spaced relation thereto so as not to drag across the goods imposed upon the buck and when the head is brought in vertical alignment with the buck to provide means whereby the head may be moved downwardly at right angles to the face of the buck to effect pressure upon the goods and this without any relative sidewise or swinging motion of the head with reference to the buck.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the head carrying frame will first be swung forwardly so as to position the head over the buck in spaced relation thereto and means whereby the head may then be moved downwardly in a right line to effect the pressing operation, the means for operating the head carrying frame and thereafter imparting downward movement to the head being operator operated and embodying a lost motion connection between the parts whereby the proper sequence of operation may be readily effected.

A. further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing retrograde movement of the head carrying frame after it is positioned for a pressing operation so as to insure the head being held in proper alignmeni with the buck at all times during the presslng operation.

With these and other objects in view, reference will be had to the annexed drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a press embodying my invention, parts being broken away or shown in section:

Figure 2 a vertical sectional view with the press shown in its fully open position; and

Figure 3 a similar view with the head carrying frame being shown as thrown forward in full lines while in the dotted line position in said figure the head has been moved downwardly into pressing relation with the buck.

The main frame or bed of the press may be constructed in any approved manner but in the instant case I have shown the bed or frame as composed of a base plate 1 to which are secured two similarly formed members 2 and 3 produced from sheet steel, struck to form. These members comprise relatively dee side walls and narrower front walls which latter stand at right angles to the former and the members are in turn secured to a bed plate 4 surmounted by a support 5 of the usual form for the buck 6.

Mounted for swinging movement between the side plates of the frame is a head carrying member 7, said member 7 being preferably formed from sheet steel in order to afford lightness and still insure suflicient rigidity along with flexibility. Said member is provided with stub axles 8 and 9 which find their support in suitable bearings secured to the side walls of the bed of the press.

As will be noted, the member 7 is in effect a lever provided with a forwardly extending over-hanging upper end to which the head 10 is secured in a manner shortly to be de scribed.

The lower end of the member 7 is bifurcated and is provided with two forwardly extending members 11 and 12. Said members thus provide faces 13 and 14, the former standing at substantially right angles to the body of the head carrying member 7 and the latter at right angles to the first mentioned face. These extensions, or more specifically the faces 13 and 14:, are designed to co-act with a pair of rollers 15 and 16 mounted upon studs or axles 17 secured in the up or ends of brackets or projections 18 exten ing upwardly from a treadle lever 19. Said memher 19 is fulcrumed as at 20 at the rear of the machine and at its forward end is fashioned into a treadle 21. A latch 22 is associated with the treadle and is designed to hold the lever 19 in its lowermost position when the same is depressed by the operator.

Springs 23 and 21 are attached at their lower ends to a through-pin 25 mounted in the lever 19 and at their upper ends to brackets 26 and 27 secured to the under face of the member 7. The springs as they contract tend to draw the rear portion of the member 7 downwardly and to thus swing said member and likewise act to raise the lever 19 or to cause the parts to assume the position shown in Figure 2.

\Vhen the head carrying frame is thrown forwardly or to the position shown in Figure 3, the springs are placed under stress.

The head 10 is supported with reference to the member 7 in the following manner so as to effect a right line movement thereof with reference to the head carrying frame and the buck when the parts assume the position shown in full lilies in Figure 3: The head is provided with a plurality of posts or pins 28, four of such posts being shown. Said posts are rigid with the head and make a sliding or slip fit with bosses 29 secured upon the head carrying frame. The head is also provided with two upstanding lugs 30 and 30. A bifurcated or double arm lever 31 is fulcrumed at 32 upon the frame 7 or, more specifically, in the rearwardly extending flanges thereof and the upper ends of said lever are connected with the lugs 30 and 30 through interposed links 33 and 33, the links being secured to the lugs or ears 30 and 30* and the upper end of the lever by suitable plns.

Extending downwardly from the underside of the member 4 is a bracket 34:, in the lower end of which is fulcrumed, as at 35, a lever 36. Said lever, at its inner end, is interconnected with the lower end of lever 31 by a pair of parallel links 37, said links and the adjacent end of the lever 36 forming in effect a toggle for imparting a swinging motion to the lower end of the lever 31. The forward end of the lever 36 is bifurcated and a swivel block 38 is mounted therein, the block being held in position by stub shafts 39 held in place by set screws =10.

Springs 41 attached at their upper ends to the member 1 are likewise attached to the stub shafts and tend at all times to swing the forward bifurcated end of the lever 36 upwardly. Block 38 is provided with an opening extending therethrough from its upper to its lower face and a draw-link or rod 4-2 extends therethrough. The rod at its upper end is provided with a head 43 while at its lower end the rod is threaded into a yokeshaped casting -14 fulcrumed upon the through-pin 45.

As will be seen upon reference to Figure 2, when the head is fully opened and the head carrying member 7 is thrown to its rearmost position, the lever 19 is raised and consequently the rod 42 is moved upwardly through the block with the head 13 thereof out of contact with the block. The rollers 15 and 16 at such time rest upon the rearmost portion of the faces 13 of the extensions 11 and 12. Pressure applied to the treadle 21 will draw the rod 42 downwardly but said rod is inelfective to operate the lever 36 until the head 48 comes in contact with the block 38. The rollers 15 and 16. however, acting upon the forward extensions 11 of the head carrying frame or lever T tend to rock said lever from the position shown in Figure 2 to the full line position shown in Figure 3. \Vith the parts in this position the head 10 is in alignment with the buck 6 and the rollers 1516 then stand in contact with the upper end of the faces 14 of the extensions 11 Further downward movement of the lever, or from the full line position, Figure 3, to the dotted line position in said figure, carries the rollers downwardly along the forward faces 14 of the extensions 11, thus preventing the head carrying frame or lever from moving from the full line position. At the same time the head 13 contacts the swivel block 38 and effects a rocking of the lever 36 whereby said lever and the links 37 impart a rearward movement to the lower end of the head actuating lever 31 causing the upper end of said lever to move downwardly and through. the links 33-38 to force the head 16 downwardly into pressin relation with the goods imposed upon the uek.

As will be appreciated, this downward movement is a right line one hence no drag is imposed upon the goods resting upon the buck. The lever 19 may be locked to hold the press in its closed position or the operator may, by manipulation thereof pat the goods. the patting operation being at all times at right angles to the surface of the oods.

The press head may, of course, be positioned by drawing the frame 7 forwardly by hand, the operator at such time grasping the handle 46 secured in the forward extension of the frame member 7.

iVhen the latch 22 is released the rod 42 is moved upwardly and the springs 11 raise the forward end of the lever 36. At the same time the rollers 1516 pass upwardly along the faces 1-1 o the extensions 11 and maintain the frame 7 in its full line position, Figure 3. The swinging of the lever 36 breaks the toggle and draws the lower end of the lever 31 inwardly from the dotted line position, Figure 3. to the full line position of said lever in said figure. This, of course, elevates the head from the goods and carries it up to the full line position. Further upward mover ment of the treadle lever 19 carries the rollers 15-16 into alignment with the faces 13 and the springs 23 and 21 then come into operation drawing or swinging the head carrying frame rearwardly and at the same time serving to continue to elevate the lever 19.

To arrestthe rearward swing of the head lever 7 uitable stops 47 extend inwardly of the frame and contact the lever when the parts have reached their full open position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the mechanism embodies a lost motion connection between the treadle and the head actuating lever 31 which permits the head supporting frame 7 to be fully positioned prior to the operation of the pressure applying devices which actuate the head to bring it down into pressing relation with the buck. The arrangement in such that both in the pressing and releasing motions of the head 10 toward and from the buck the path of movement is a right line one and no displacement of the lay of the goods on the buck inheres.

What is claimed is:

1. In a press the combination of a buck; a head cooperative therewith; a head-supporting frame, said frame being mounted for swinging movement to carry the head over the buck and laterally in a rearward direction therefrom, said head likewise being movable relatively to the supporting frame; operator operated means to swing the frame forwardly to align the head and buck; and a lost motion connection interposed between the head and said means to draw the head downwardly into pressing relation with the buck after the head frame has been moved forwardly.

2. In a press the combination of a buck; a head cooperative therewith; a head supporting frame with reference to which the head is mounted for ri ht line movement, said frame being mounted about a fixed pivot for swinging movement to carry the head over the buck and laterally in a rearward direction therefrom; and operator operated means acting to first swing the frame forwardly to align the head and buck and thereafter as a continuing operation to draw the head downwardly in a right line direction into pressing relation with the buck.

3. In a garment press the combination of a base; a buck mounted thereon; a head supporting frame pivoted intermediate its upper and lower ends to the base, said frame having a forwardly extending portion at its uper end; a head carried by said forwardly extending portion and means to move the same at substantially right angles thereto; operator actuated means for swinging the frame forwardly to align the head and buck; and a lost motion connection interposed between the head moving means and said operator actuated means adapted upon final movement of said operator actuated means to force the head downwardly into pressing relation with the buck.

4. In a garment press the combination of a base; a buck mounted thereon; a head supporting frame pivoted intermediate its-upper and lower ends to the base, said frame having a forwardly extending portion at its upper end; a head carried by said forwardly extending portion and means to move the same at substantially right angles thereto; operator actuated means for swinging the frame forwardly to align the head and buck; and a lost motion connection interposed between the head moving means and said operator actuated means adapted upon final movement of said operator actuated means, to lock the frame against movement and to force the head downwardly into pressing relation with the buck.

5. In a garment press the combination of a base; a buck mounted thereon; a head carrying frame pivoted intermediate its ends to the base; a head carried by and movable with reference to the frame; a lever pivoted on the frame and movable therewith; connections between said lever and the head for moving the latter when the said lever is actuated; and means for successively positioning the frame with reference to the buck and moving the lever to move the head into pressing relation to the buck.

6. In a garment pressing machine the combination of a buck; a head; a ivoted head carrying member, said head being movable toward and from said member and said member and head being movable laterally with reference to the buck; means for moving the carrying member to such position that the head stands in alignment with the buck but in spaced relation thereto; and lever mechanism for moving the head, independent of any movement of the carrying member, to effect a pressing operation.

7 In a garment pressing machine, the combination of a fixed frame; a buck carried thereby; a lever pivoted on the frame; a head mounted upon the upper end of the lever and movable thereon in a direction substantially normal to the face of said head; a lever pivotally mounted upon said first named lever and connected to said head; means for rocking the first lever to bring the head into alignment with the buck; and means thereafter acting on the second lever to rock the same and to thereby force the head into pressing relation to the buck.

8. In a garment pressing machine the combination of a fixed frame; a buck carried thereby; a lever pivoted on the frame; a head mounted upon the upper end of the lever and movable thereon in a direction substantially normal to the face of said head; a lever pivotally mounted upon said first named lever and connected to said head; a power lever coacting with the first named lever to rock the same and to thereby bring the head in alignment with the buck; and a lost motion connection between the second lever and the power lever for swinging said second lever and thereby effecting a pressing movement of the head toward the buck.

9. In a garment press the combination of a fixed frame; a buck carried thereby; a

head carrying lever pivoted on the frame; a head mounted thereon for motion in a line substantially normal to the face of said head; a second lever pivoted to the head lever, and operatively connected with the head; a power lever; a toggle connected to the lower end of the second lever; and connections between said power lever and said toggle on the one hand and the head carrying lever on the other hand, said first connection including a lost motion device whereby the ower lever operates said head carrying fever and toggle serially.

'10. In a garment press the combination of a frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head carrying lever pivoted on the frame; said lever having its ends extending forwardly with reference to the body thereof; a head carried by the upper end; a power lever; at least one roller carried thereby, said roller bearing upon the upper face of the lower end of the head lever when said end is thrown forwardly and acting when the power lever is depressed to swin the lower end of the head lever rearward y and then to pass in front of said end and to thereby lock the head lever against retrograde movement; and means, actuated by the power lever, for moving the head into pressing relation while the 80 head carrying lever is held in its locked position.

11. In a garment press the combination of a frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head carrying lever pivoted on the frame, said lever having its lower end bifurcated and extended forwardly; a power lever; a pair of rollers carried thereby, said rollers, when the lower portion of said head carrying lever is thrown forwardly, resting upon the upper faces of said ends and adapted, when the lever is swung in the opposite direction, to pass into contact with t e face of the ends; a head mounted for face-wise movement upon the upper end of the head carrying lever;

and means actuated by the power lever during the latter part of its movement to force the head into contact with the buck.

12. In a garment press the combination of a frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head carr ing lever fulcrumed on the frame; a hea carried by the upper portion thereof; a power lever; spring means interconnecting said levers and acting to raise the power lever and to swing the u per end of the head carrying lever rearwar l and connections between the lower end of the head carrying lever and the power lever for rocking the former u on depression of the latter.

13. n a garment press the combination of a frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head carrying lever pivoted on the frame, the upper and lower ends thereof extending forwardly, and the lower end being bifurcated; a head mounted for face-wise movement upon the upper end of the lever; a second lever fulcrumed upon the power lever' links connecting said second lever to the head; a power lever pivoted at the rear of the frame; a pair of rollers carried thereby and resting respectively, when the upper end of the head carrying lever is thrown rearwardly, upon the bifurcated ends aforesaid; a fourth lever pivoted upon a fixed portion of the press; a link connecting the rear arm of said lever and the lower end of the second lever; a draw rod extending upwardly from the power lever; and a lost motion connection between said rod and the forward end of said fourth lever.

14. A pressas set forth in claim 13 wherein spring means is interposed between the power lever and the head lever which serves to elevate the former and to rock the upper end of the latter rearwardly.

15. A press as set forth in claim 13 wherein spring means is interposed between the power lever and the head lever which serves to elevate the former and to rock the upper end of the latter rearwardly; and spring means normally urging the forward end of the fourth lever upwardly.

16. In a garment press the combination of a fixed frame; a buck carried thereby; a head carrying lever pivoted on the frame; a head mounted on said lever for motion substantially normal to the face of said head; a second lever pivoted to the head carrying lever and operatively connected with the head; a toggle connected to said second lever and to a xed portion of the frame; a movable power applying member; and serially acting connections between the power applying member and said toggle on the one hand and said head carrying lever on the other hand.

17. In a press, the combination of a buck; a head cooperative therewith; a head-supporting frame, said frame mounted for swinging movement about a fixed axis to carry the head both over and away from the buck in spaced relation thereto; means for supporting the head with reference to the headsupporting frame, said means being such that the head when brought into alignment with the buck may be moved toward and from the same independently of any movement of the supporting frame aforesaid; and means acting to first swing the head-supporting frame forwardly to align the head and buck and thereafter to move the head in a right line direction with reference to the buck.

18. In a press, the combination of a buck; a head cooperative therewith; a head-supporting frame, said frame mounted for swinging movement about a fixed axis to carry the head both over and away from the buck in spaced relation thereto; means for supporting the head with reference to the head-supporting frame, said means being such that the head when brought into alignment with the buck may be moved toward and from the same independently of any movement of the supporting frame aforesaid; and means acting to first swing the headsupporting frame forwardly to align the head and buck and to hold said frame in such position and thereafter to move the head in a right line direction with reference to the buck.

19. In a press, the combination of a buck; a head cooperative therewith; a head-supporting frame, said frame mounted for swinging movement about a fixed axis to carry the head both over and away from the buck in spaced relation thereto; means for supporting the head with reference to the headsupporting frame, said means embodying guiding elements interposed between the head and the head-supporting frame to impart a right line movement to the head toward and from the buck and a lever fulcrumed upon the head-supporting frame and cooperative with the head to move the latter with refernce to the head-supporting frame; and means for serially swinging the head-supporting frame to position the head over the buck in spaced relation thereto and to thereafter actuate the lever to move the head in a right line direction with reference to the buck.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

C ARENCE M. CLARKE.

and from the same independently of any movement of the supporting frame aforesaid and means acting to first swing the headsupporting frame forwardly to align the head and buck and to hold said frame in such position and thereafter to move the head in a right line direction with reference to the buck.

19. In a press, the combination of a buck; a head cooperative therewith; a head-supporting frame, said frame mounted for swinging movement about a fixed axis to carry the head both over and away from the buck in spaced relation thereto; means for supporting the head with reference to the headsupporting frame, said means embodying guiding elements inter osed between the head and the head-supporting frame to impart a right line movement to the head toward and from the buck and a lever fulcrumed upon the head-supporting frame and cooperative with the head to move the latter with refer- -nce to the head-supporting frame; and means for serially swinging the head-supporting frame to position the head over the buck in spaced relation thereto and to thereafter actuate the lever to move the head in a right line direction with reference to the buck.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

C ARENCE M. CLARKE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,841,521. Granted January 19, 1932. to

CLARENCE M. CLARKE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 35, claim 2, strike out the words "about a fixed pivot" and insert the same to follow "movement" in line 36, of same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealedthis 1st day of March, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,841,521. Granted January 19, 1932, to

CLARENCE M. CLARKE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 35, claim 2, strike out the words "about a fixed pivot" and insert the same to follow "movement" in line 36, of same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of March, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

